'we are world leaders'

Labour MP Kevan Jones, a former defence minister, said: “This is yet another example of the hidden financial crisis facing our armed force, along with mothballed tanks and Naval ship laid up. Ministers need to face up to the effect of this is having on the UKs defence capability.”

The Tornado, which has been operational in the RAF since the early 1980s, is due to be scrapped in 2019 after previously having its service life extended by two years.

An RAF source said: “The RAF Tornados are coming to the end of their life. They require increasing maintenance and upgrades to keep them in the air. They have taken a real battering over the last 10-years.”

Alamy

But the MoD admitted that the number of jets which cannot fly could be higher

RAF Typhoons scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

But the MoD last night insisted it was all scheduled maintenance in line with managing a fleet to keep it in line with military aviation rules.

An RAF Spokesperson said: “The RAF has sufficient fast jet aircraft to meet its current operational requirements. It is completely normal for all our aircraft to go through scheduled depth maintenance.”